The
ews
No. 8 Vol. 95
Hoke’s top stories
are on the web
www.thenews-journal.^om
This week
CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF
2002
mm
INSIDE!
Graduation Section
Veterans
don't forget
page 3A
Joani Tabor
to sing here
page 4A
Index
Births 3^
Calendar 2^
Classifieds 6-7^
Deaths 7/\
Editorials 2-3/\
Engagements 3^
Legals 4-5^
Public Record 7a
Religion 4,8^
Socials 3B
Sports 6a
Weddings 3^
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
Contributing Editor
The weatherstill can’t m^ke
up its mind. One day is hot ^ncl
the next is cool. 1 can’t re
member the temperature be
ing 45 degrees on May 20 it
was Monday morning. There
was a smile on some of the
farmer’s faces Sunday morn
ing at Sunday School. This
was because of a half to three
quarters inch of rain on Satur
day. This helps but we need
much more rain.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
high Wednesday to be in the
70s and the low in the SOs.
Thursday the high will be in
the 70s and the low in the SOs.
Friday and Saturday the highs
will be in the SOs and the lows
in the 60s. There is no rain iri
the forecast.
*****
Ruth Phillips was by the
house last week, and she asked
me to mention the upcoming
Hospice and Unilever Qolf
Tournament that will be held
at the Bayonet Golf Course on
Friday, June 7, 2002. There
will be two starting times —-
the first at 8 a.m. and the sec
ond at 1:30 p.m.
The price for an individual
is $50 and they will play in a
team of four. The type of piay
is Captain’s Choice. This price
includes cart and green fee
and goody bag (on cart), lev
erages are provided during the
day and lunch for morning
players and dinner for after
noon players. There will ^iso
(See AROUND, page 10a)
Journal
If It happened, it's news to
50 cents
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
Brittany case witness changes story
Sheriff questions integrity of original investigators, contacts Justice Dept.
By V icTORiANA Summers
Staff writer
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
Sheriff Jim Davis said he has called for
a federal investigation into the death of
young Brittany Lynn Locklear, who was
kidnapped as she waited for her school
bus on January 8, 199S. The sheriff went
on a Raleigh TV station and said a witness
has revealed new evidence. He also said
he questions the integrity of the original
investigation and the motivationsof those
investigators.
However, a State Bureau of Investiga
tion official said he "was lurt aware” of
what Davis is referring to in the unsolved
murder ease.
"No information has been provided to
us recently b\ Sheriff Jim Davis,” said
Agent Ja\ Tilley of the SBl, letid agency
in the murder investigation of the five-
year-old. "We have not seen anything that
could result in an arrest warrant.
"Wc all would like to see the killer
found, but we all want tomake suie we get
the right individual.”
Tilley said he heard a recent television
newscast of Davis saying a person had
“come forward” with new information,
but Davis did not reveal the name. Over a
year-and-a-half ago, Davis and the SBl
interviewed two potential suspects in the
murder investigation of Brittany,
(See BRITTANY, page 5A)
Strickland picked
to head schools
Has been intermim since death of Tyler
The Hoke County School Board named
Allen Strickland superintendent of
schools in an early-morning meeting to
day.
The board met at 7 and picked
Strickland unanimously. He has filled
the position since the death of Mitch
Tyler in early March.
Strickland, who is 49 and a native of
Stedman, taught and was a school admin
istrator for 24 years before coming to
Hoke, where he was assistant superinten
dent before being
named interim.
He is a graduate
of Campbell Uni
versity and holds a
masters in school
administration. He
and his wife,
Beverly, a profes
sor at Fayetteville
Technical Community College, have
three sons.
Allen Strickland
Layofis or tax hike,
those are the options
County manager presents budget plan
BY ViCTORIANA SUMMERS
Staff writer
Faced with severe revenue cutbacks.
County Manager Mike Wood succeeded
in his assignment from the county com
missioners - presenting a balanced bud
get with no tax increase - but at the
expense of 18 jobs.
Wood presented a $20 million budget
with no tax increase, but recommended
cutbacks include eliminating 18 person
nel positions and paring the Board of
Education’s budget, decreasing the
overall budget by $1 million compared
with last year’s.
The board will review the 281 -page
annual budget estimate over the week
end and hold a budget session on May
28 at 8 a.m. to discuss final details.
In the budget message for 2002-
2003 fiscal year. Wood said Hoke is
facing a budget crisis not necessarily of
(See BUDGET, page ^A)
Praise sing and dance
The rain did not dampen spirits of March for Jesus participants Saturday. See related
article, page 4A.
County bills former contract-lawyer for expenses from trip
By ViCTORIANA Summers
Staff writer
No one seems to know how Harry L.
Southerland, Raeford attorney formerly
contracted part-time by Hoke County,
was authorized to go on an official trip
paid for by Hoke taxpayers. Southerland
apparently traveled to the National Asso
ciation of County Commissioners held in
Washington D.C. on March 2 — even
though he had already resigned from his
part-time position.
Southerland resigned on February 28
after filing for a seat in the county com
missioners' race.
Commission Vice Chairman James A.
Leach said Southerland had never been in
Washington and it is "all a mistake.” He
said Southerland did not go on the trip
because he had already resigned with the
county.
“I know I would have definitely seen
him there if he had gone, and I did not,”
Leach said. “I am sure the county can get
a refund from the hotel and convention if
they paid for his trip.
(See SOUTHERLAND BILLED, page 9A)
Senior Game winners
Senior residents (from left) Thelma McAllister. Evelyn Price, Kathryn MePhatter and
Sallie Woods showed their “mettle” and returned to Hoke with nine medals from the
Senior Games in Lumberton. See related article, page lOA.
Candidate’s son again charged with drug offense
By ViCTORIANA Summers
Staff written
A sheriff candidate’s son has again
been charged with a drug offense. Robert
Bartolo Crull was cited on May 19 for
possession of marijuana after a random
traffic stop on Wayside Road by the N.C.
Highway Patrol. A Highway Patrol
spokesman said as the vehicle approached
the routine checkpoint set up on Way-
side, the driver quickly turned his vehicle
around to avoid the checkpoint.
No information was available if Crull
was the driver of the vehicle or merely a
passenger.
“The vehicle was pursued by an officer
from the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement
agency and stopped,” the trooper said.
“We did not actually give the citation. The
agent did, and he also arrested another
(See DRUG OFFENSE, page 9A}
Police chief says sheriff
stalled murder investigation
Fifth person arrested in
Robbins Heights shooting
By ViCTORIANA Summers
Pat Allen Wilson
Raeford police have charged a fifth
man, Travis Lloyd Taylor, with the
January 23 shooting death of Timothy
Lavelle Stephens. However, Chief
Mack High is upset because he said
actions of the Hoke County Sheriff’s Of
fice have interfered with his department’s
investigation of the case by not allowing
another suspect to be released from jail to
show officers the location of key evi
dence.
Taylor is believed to be the final arrest
in the shooting of Stephens and injuring
of two other men who were standing at the
intersection of Seventh Avenue and
(See INTERFERED, page 9A)
New Chamber president
Newly sworn-in president Randy
Russeil and members of the Raeford-
Hoke Chamber of Commerce applaud
former president Wayne Simpson at
last night's 55th annual banquet.
Sheriff Davis
injured in wreck
By ViCTORIANA Summers
Staff writer
Sheriff Jim Davis was injured yester
day afternoon after a driver lost control of
his northbound Cheerwine tractor-trailer
on U.S. Highway 401 at the Cumberland-
Hoke line, striking the sheriff’s unmarked
patrol car. Davis had already safely turned
into County Line Plaza shopping center
parking area when the rig careened off the
road and crashed into him.
A witness said Davis was “pretty badly
banged up” from the accident.
(See DAVIS INJURED, page 5A)